cxg_032e

iGL32-1999Adopted1999.Revisions2001,2003,2004and2007.Amendments2008,2009,2010and2012.GUIDELINESFORTHEPRODUCTION,PROCESSING,LABELLINGANDMARKETINGOFORGANICALLYPRODUCEDFOODSGL32–1999PREFACETheCodexAlimentariusCommissionisanintergovernmentalbodywithover180members,withintheframeworkoftheJointFoodStandardsProgrammeestablishedbytheFoodandAgricultureOrganizationoftheUnitedNations(FAO)andtheWorldHealthOrganization(WHO),withthepurposeofprotectingthehealthofconsumersandensuringfairpracticesinthefoodtrade.TheCommissionalsopromotescoordinationofallfoodstandardsworkundertakenbyinternationalgovernmentalandnongovernmentalorganizations.TheCodexAlimentarius(Latin,meaningFoodLaworCode)istheresultoftheCommission’swork:acollectionofinter-nationallyadoptedfoodstandards,guidelines,codesofpracticeandotherrecommendations.ThetextsinthispublicationarepartoftheCodexAlimentarius.Foodlabellingistheprimarymeansofcommunicationbetweentheproducerandselleroffoodononehand,andthepurchaserandconsumeroftheother.TheCodexAlimentariusstandardsandguidelinesonfoodlabellingarepublishedinaspecificvolume:FoodLabelling–CompleteTexts.Inadditiontothegeneralrecommendations,theCodexCommitteeonFoodLabellingalsoprovidesguidanceforcertainclaimscommonlyfoundinthemarketinordertoprovideclearinformationtotheconsumer.TheCodexCommitteeonFoodLabellingdevelopedtheGuidelinesfortheProduction,Processing,LabellingandMarketingofOrganicallyProducedFoodsinviewofthegrowingproductionandinternationaltradeinorganicallyproducedfoodswithaviewtofacilitatingtradeandpreventingmisleadingclaims.TheGuidelinesareintendedtofacilitatetheharmonizationofrequirementsfororganicproductsattheinternationallevel,andmayalsoprovideassistancetogovernmentswishingtoestablishnationalregulationsinthisarea.TheGuidelinesincludegeneralsectionsdescribingtheorganicproductionconceptandthescopeofthetext;descriptionanddefinitions;labellingandclaims(includingproductsintransition/conversion);rulesofproductionandpreparation,includingcriteriaforthesubstancesallowedinorganicproduction;inspectionandcertificationsystems;andimportcontrol.Furtherinformationonlabellingtexts,oranyotheraspectoftheCodexAlimentariusCommission,maybeobtainedfrom:TheSecretary,CodexAlimentariusCommission,JointFAO/WHOFoodStandardsProgramme,FAO,VialedelleTermediCaracalla,00153,RomeItalyfax:+39(06)57.05.45.93email:[e-mail]:–1999FOREWORD1.Theseguidelineshavebeenpreparedforthepurposeofprovidinganagreedapproachtotherequirementswhichunderpinproductionof,andthelabellingandclaimsfor,organicallyproducedfoods.2.Theaimsoftheseguidelinesare:•toprotectconsumersagainstdeceptionandfraudinthemarketplaceandunsubstantiatedproductclaims;•toprotectproducersoforganicproduceagainstmisrepresentationofotheragriculturalproduceasbeingorganic;•toensurethatallstagesofproduction,preparation,storage,transportandmarketingaresubjecttoinspectionandcomplywiththeseguidelines;•toharmonizeprovisionsfortheproduction,certification,identificationandlabellinghaveorganicallygrownproduce;•toprovideinternationalguidelinesfororganicfoodcontrolsystemsinordertofacilitaterecognitionofnationalsystemsasequivalentforthepurposesofimports;and•tomaintainandenhanceorganicagriculturalsystemsineachcountrysoastocontributetolocalandglobalpreservation.3.Theseguidelinesareatthisstageafirststepintoofficialinternationalharmonizationoftherequirementsfororganicproductsintermsofproductionandmarketingstandards,inspectionarrangementsandlabellingrequirements.Inthisareatheexperiencewiththedevelopmentofsuchrequirementsandtheirimplementationisstillverylimited.Moreover,consumerperceptionontheorganicproductionmethodmay,incertaindetailedbutimportantprovisions,differfromregiontoregionintheworld.Therefore,thefollowingisrecognizedatt